Crippled by procrastination…panic, self-loathing and soul-crushing inadequacy

Posted on by Live & Learn

Robert De Niro

“The mind of a writer can be a truly terrifying thing. Isolated, neurotic, caffeine addled, crippled by procrastination, consumed by feelings of panic, self-loathing and soul-crushing inadequacy… and that’s on a good day.”

– Robert De Niro

Source: Photograph – Awards Circuit.  Quote: Your Eyes Blaze Out

35 thoughts on “Crippled by procrastination…panic, self-loathing and soul-crushing inadequacy”

        1. “I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life. He taught me that if you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it at full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot and passionate is the only thing to be”

          – Roald Dahl

          2. Hell, I’m all those things and I’m not a writer. Which I think just makes me delightfully, unendingly neurotic. And neurotic people are passionate at self-flagellation…and some of us are white hot in love with life at the same time. Go figure.

  10. Oh dear, they must end up writing very depressing stuff with all those negative emotions plaguing them. I shall rewrite that to say “The mind of a writer can be a truly exhilarating thing. Surrounded by characters of their own making, focused, calm, goal-orientated, consumed by feelings of clarity, satisfaction and optimism that with hard work it’s possible to achieve great things … and that’s on a good day.” (I had to used the last phrase!)

      1. Thank you 🙂 I don’t know why some writers have to be so tortured and miserable. It’s no wonder that there are some really depressing novels out there, and so often they’re the ones that win literary prizes and competitions, as if their misery is what gives them validity. Writing is a wonderful pursuit, full of possibilities and endless surprises.

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